Mandevilla plant named ‘Fisrix Pinka’

ABSTRACT

A new  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Fisrix Pinka,’ particularly distinguished by large pink flowers, floriferous habit, deep green, glossy foliage, elliptical leaves, well branched, bushy plant habit, and vigorous growth.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Mandevillasanderi (Hemsl.) Woodson.

Varietal denomination: ‘Fisrix Pinka’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofMandevilla, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘Fisrix Pinka.’

‘Fisrix Pinka’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The newcultivar ‘Fisrix Pinka’ has large pink flowers, floriferous habit, deepgreen, glossy foliage, elliptical leaves, well branched, bushy planthabit, and vigorous growth.

‘Fisrix Pinka’ originated from a hybridization made in the summer of2003 in Hillscheid, Germany. The female parent is the commercialMandevilla variety offered as ‘Sundaville’® Red, ‘Moulin Rouge’ inFrance, which is identical to ‘Sunmandecrim,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No.15,539, having red flower color, good branching characteristics, andmedium green foliage. The male parent is the commercial Mandevillavariety offered as ‘My Fair Lady’™ and patented as ‘Helle,’ U.S. PlantPat. No. 9,117 with white to pale pink flower color, deep green foliage,and relatively few branches.

The seeds produced by the hybridization were sown in the fall of 2003.The resulting seedlings (plants) were evaluated in late summer to fallof 2004. ‘Fisrix Pinka’ was selected as one flowering plant in agreenhouse in Hillscheid, Germany.

The plant was propagated asexually for the first time in the fall of2004. It has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttingsin Hillscheid, Germany over a 2–3 year period. Horticultural examinationof plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in Hillscheid,Germany, in the spring of 2005, and continuing thereafter, hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor ‘Fisrix Pinka’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for ‘Fisrix Pinka’ were applied for in Europe onDec. 13, 2006 and in Canada on Jan. 28, 2008. ‘Fisrix Pinka’ has notbeen made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing ofthis application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Mandevilla plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant in full color. Thecolors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures. The photograph is of an about 12 month oldplant grown in a greenhouse.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Fisrix Pinka.’ The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inHillscheid, Germany. The plant history was taken in early June 2007 on 9month old plants, planted in late August to early September 2006,pinched once, and grown in 12 cm diameter pots/containers in aglass-covered greenhouse with additional light during the winter months.

Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references areprimarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Societyof London (R.H.S.) (2001 edition). Texture description details wereobserved under a magnifying glass.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Hillscheid, Germany.

-   -   1. Large, medium pink colored flowers with relatively wide        petals    -   2. Floriferous with inflorescences of 5–6 flowers each    -   3. Deep green foliage with elliptical leaves and glossy surface    -   4. Vigorous growth habit; well-branching    -   5. Upright to spreading, bushy plant habit

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Fisrix Pinka’ differs from the female parent, Mandevilla plant‘Sunmandecrim,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,539, in that ‘Fisrix Pinka’ has apink flower color, while ‘Sunmandecrim’ has a (deep) red flower colorand somewhat less deep foliage color.

‘Fisrix Pinka’ differs from the male parent, the commercial Mandevillaplant ‘Helle,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,117, in that ‘Fisrix Pinka’ hasmuch deeper pink colored flowers, while ‘Helle’ has a white to pale pinkhue and light pink buds. Additionally, ‘Fisrix Pinka’ develops morebranches, and foliage is more elongate (elliptic) than with ‘Helle’,that has ovate to nearly round leaves.

‘Fisrix Pinka’ differs from the commercial cultivar CosmosPink/‘Sunmandecos’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,202) in that ‘Fisrix Pinka’has a more uniform pink flower without any distinct white pattern in thecenter of the flower, not quite as large flowers, earlier flowering inspring and comparatively little tendency to developing vines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Apocynaceae.        -   Botanical name.—Mandevilla sanderi (Hemsl.) Woodson.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘Sunmandecrim’, a commercial red-colored            Mandevilla plant (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,539).        -   Male parent.—‘Helle’, a commercial, pale pink flowered            Mandevilla plant (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,117).-   Whole plant:    -   -   Form and growth habit.—Perennial or sub-shrub with            herbaceous younger stems and vines, and woody bases,            initially upright, develops vines mainly during winter            months at low light conditions; commercially mostly grown as            an annual plant.        -   Height.—41 cm (from top of soil) for 9 month old plants.        -   Width.—Approximately 40 cm (35–45 cm) foliage canopy,            respective 52 cm width including inflorescences.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 5 months            for a small flowering plant in a 12 cm pot in winter through            spring cultivation.        -   Plant use and outdoor plant performance.—For flowering pots            and for larger containers (best with support), or outdoors            in a flower bed, good heat and drought tolerance.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—About 25 days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, a little fleshy, and freely            branching.-   Stems:    -   -   Number of (main) branches.—9–11, one (on average) of which            is a vine.        -   Length.—30–40 cm without the inflorescence (excluding            vines).        -   Diameter.—3–4 mm as measured in the middle.        -   Internode length.—2.0–4.0 cm.        -   Color.—Mainly RHS 143B, grass green, no anthocyanin; wooden            base: RHS 177C, brown.        -   Texture.—Woody at the base, smooth in the upper part,            glabrous.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Usually opposite.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Rounded or truncate, may even appear weakly cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—6.4–7.2 cm.        -   Width.—4.8–5.5 cm.        -   Color young foliage.—Upper surface: RHS 143B. Lower surface:            RHS 144B.        -   Leaf vein color.—Upper surface reddish, RHS 181B (reddish            color fades and disappears with maturing).        -   Color mature (fully expanded).—Upper surface: RHS 137B to            137C. Lower surface: More yellowish green than RHS 138B, or            between RHS 138B and RHS 144B.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface indistinct, same as leaf            color; lower surface midrib RHS 145B, side veins are very            fine, near RHS 138B.        -   Leaf texture.—Leathery, smooth, glabrous (both sides),            glossy.        -   Petiole length.—Approximately 1.0–1.3 cm.        -   Petiole width.—2–3 mm.        -   Petiole color.—Grass green, RHS 143C with mature leaves;            young leaves: reddish, RHS 181B, reddish hue fades and            disappears with age.-   Flower bud: Elongated, spindle shape.    -   -   Diameter.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Length.—Up to 7.5 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud).—Upper part: rose red, RHS 58B; lower            part is mostly pale green, RHS 145C to 145D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Raceme, emerging at the nodes, with the            flowers in an alternate arrangement.        -   Blooming habit.—Continuously through the summer months.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—Mostly 14–18.        -   Lastingness of individual flowers on the plant.—8–10 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Inflorescence length.—Approximately 15 cm (including            peduncle).        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—Most often 5–6 in            various stages of development.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Color.—Light green, RHS 143B.        -   Length.—5–7 cm, somewhat variable.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous, somewhat glossy.-   Flower:    -   -   Type.—Single.        -   Shape.—Lower part of corolla is tube to funnel shaped formed            by the fused petals, petal lobes open outwards in a            star-shape, at approx. rights angels and slightly            overlapping.        -   Corolla length.—6–5–7 cm.        -   Corolla diameter (flower ‘face’).—8–9 cm.        -   Diameter of funnel at opening.—Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Color upper surface.—Initially between RHS 58B and 58C,            turns to RHS 67D or 68B later.        -   Color lower surface.—Deep pink, RHS 63B to 64D.        -   Color funnel, inside.—Deep yellow, RHS 13A.        -   Color funnel, outside.—Upper part light pink, RHS 62B, lower            part pale yellow to cream, RHS 4D or 154D (pale            yellow-green).-   Petals: 5, lower parts fused, free lobes are roughly ovate to    triangular, asymmetric, with the right part of the petal blade much    wider than the left one.    -   -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire, occasionally a little crenulate in parts.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Length (from the corolla opening).—4.2–4.7 cm.        -   Width, maximum.—3.5–4.0 cm.-   Calyx: 5 sepals, closely attached to the base of the flower.    -   -   Color.—Visible (outer) surface: pale green, RHS 145A, a            little anthocyanin at the tips, RHS 57A.        -   Length.—7–10 mm.        -   Width.—1–2 mm.        -   Shape.—Ligulate.        -   Apex.—Acute, almost spine-like, yet soft.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Color.—Dull green, RHS 146C, often partly infused with            anthocyanin: RHS 176D, brown.        -   Length.—1.1–1.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—5, connivent, at the base of the corolla funnel.        -   Filament.—Fused with the base of the flower.        -   Anther.—Elongate, 2 thecae, 8–10 mm in length.        -   Color.—Light yellow orange, RHS 20C.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—RHS 11D.        -   Pistil.—One, 5 lobed stigma.        -   Length.—2.0–2.3 cm, 0.1 cm in diameter.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 150D.        -   Style color.—RHS 150B.-   Fruit and seed set: Spontaneous seed set has not been observed to    date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Disease resistance and/or susceptibility    has not been observed to date.

1. A new and distinct variety of Mandevilla plant named ‘Fisrix Pinka,’substantially as illustrated and described herein.